The Osceola times., 1887-07-02
COSTA RICA'S CAPITAL.
The Streets, stores and Churches e
Quaint Old San Jose.

The streets of San Jose are. Wide
enough to have impressed upon an en-
terprising company the idea of building
trsmway through the city. Now one
rarely sees carriages except the modest
fly dashing onward TO the station in the
usual five minutes, which the reckless
Jehu allows himself and his passengers.
Ox-carts line the principal streets, the
patient animals rs much at home in the
metropolis before the palace of Gov
ernment as in the dustiest high road
tending potrerowards. 1t will be u
rare moment when galy painted cars
lumber painfully through the streets.
stopping every now and again to make
way for the oX-carts of the grand
fathers. Every small girl who can beg
or borrow cinco will enjoy at least
one ride in the carriage of the people,
and grimy little boys will hang on be-
hind needless of danger after the we'll
known fashion of all the other grimy
little boys in older centers Another
enterprise which has already proved u
success is the public market. The stores
are very fair; goods in general not
much higher than in the States when
one takes into consideration the duties
and the difficulties of transportation.
Duties are usually levied according to
weight, consequently fine. soft silks
and flannels are proportionately cheap
er than heavy cloth. Hats are expen.
sive enough-fearful and wonderful
hats they are. too; made in France for
foreign markets and supposed to be al
together modelled after the bonnets
which set the fashions for the polite
world. Since this is the first genera
ton which has really taken to such
head coverings. it is safe to state that
women of fashion would hesitate a
long time before wearing the wonder
full combination imported into the
country. Twenty-Five or thirty dollars
for common straw gorgeously decor
ated with third-quality feathers, cot
ton-black velvet and cheap lace may
well cause one to respect the Presi.
dents wife, who wears only her abund.
ant hair upon her head and keeps o6
the too fervid heat with parasol.
That the natives Of tropical regioni
should have a fancy for brilliant color
is only natural; delicate tints appear
faded and washed out in the full ligh,
of the torrid sun. and nature herself
accomplished artist that she is, maker
marvellous combinations which her vo-
taries may be pardoned for attempting
to copy. 1t will require as many years
for the women Of Costa Rica to be ed
ucated up to the standard of taste o.
their more fortunate sisters beyond thu
seas as for an amateur dabbler in col
ors to equal Dame Nature when sh'
mixes her wonderful blues and greenl
and makes the whole world glorious
harmony.
The Cathedral is noble building
fronting the park. The floor is mosaic
and the walls. lofty columns. pews ant
pulpits are made Of the valuable ant
beautiful woods of the country.
II was in 1850 that Costa Rica wa
erected into an Independent diocese, il
having until that time formed part o
the bishopric of Nicaragua The frs
Bishop of Costa Rica was Anselm'
Lorente. a man who lived only to th'
: honor and advancement Of his church
The present Bishop is German b!
: birth, still young and corresponding.
+ Jealous.
The other two churches are Carme,
: and Merced, plain white-washcd build
= ings. severe on the outside, absolutel
: mournful within. The doors stan'
2 open nearly all day and the repentan
>, or grateful kneel on the brick foo
: and mutter their prayers at I'll hours
: San Jose Cor San Francisco Chron
| al